UNAIDS has delivered its latest update on progress towards universal access to HIV/AIDS treatment. The top line is that more than four million people are now on antiretroviral treatment. Here's MSF's response to the update:
“Behind the positive headline of more people on HIV treatment, there’s a hidden reality: five million patients are still going without,” said Michelle Childs, Director of Policy & Advocacy at MSF's Campaign for Access to Essential Medicines.
“This is particularly worrying because of the looming funding crisis. For example the Global Fund is facing a significant budget deficit forcing them to reduce grants and possibly cancel the next funding round. The report also warns that the progress achieved is under threat because the cost of second-line treatment is rising – we need to find sustainable solutions for this, and one solution is getting the pharmaceutical companies to put their patents in a patent pool now.”
MSF is launching an international campaign today to call on pharmaceutical companies to join UNITAID’s Patent Pool initiative.
Make It Happen – Tell drug company bosses to share their patents and get drugs for people living with HIV.